TOP PRIORITIES FOR DELAWARE IN 2022

By Tyler Micik

​The General Assembly returns on Tuesday, January 11th for the second leg of the 151st session. It’s likely a large portion of business will be conducted virtually--at least for the first few months--given the rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.

It is an election year and a variety of bills are expected to be considered, all of which offer implications for businesses, large and small, across every industry. Among these proposals are Paid Family and Medical Leave and recreational marijuana legalization which were first introduced last year.
 
As the General Assembly gavels into session next week, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce offers our 2022 policy priorities, which focus on four pillars that are important to maintaining and creating a healthy business environment in Delaware: workforce, fiscal policy, economic development, and environmental policy. Guided by our leadership and members, these represent our top areas of focus in 2022 and will serve as a roadmap for the policies and regulations we plan to support.

Providing us your feedback, sharing your stories, and joining one of our committees is the best way to help us shape policy in the First State. Working together to cultivate an environment where companies can grow and invest in Delaware. This is the best way to secure Delaware’s economic future. Join us.

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​ Workforce Development

• Promote policies that sharpen the state government’s focus on upskilling and retraining the workforce
  • Encourage public spending policies that accelerate training and skills upgrades to meet employer needs
  • Oppose policies that artificially move wages or impose benefit requirements
  • Find opportunities to create durable soft skills in employees and incentivize employers to accelerate the advancement of new hires
• Create employment opportunities with an emphasis on building trades, technology, health care, and logistics
• Support employer-led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Support employer-led child care initiatives
• Work to find alternative health care insurance plans that include essential health benefits

Fiscal Policy

• Encourage timely and strategic spending of federal resources on infrastructure and one-time investments
• Support financial investment in the state’s rainy day fund and budget smoothing effort
• Back tax policies that incentivize workforce training

Economic Development

• Continue to support Ready in 6 policy reforms
• Support expanded site readiness
• Ensure the completion of Coastal Zone regulations and improvement of sites

Environment

• Monitor developments related to state Climate Action Plan
• Support the cleanup of Brownfields

download our 2022 policy priorites